Portable floor



March 28, 1967 R, c. BUE ETAI..

PORTABLE FLOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Y Filed Oct. 2, 1964 ATTOQNEKS March 28,1967 R. c. BUE ETAL.

PORTABLE FLOOR 2 sheetssheet z Filed Oct. 2, 1964 www@ n new@ new m .wwwT m RWM 3,310,919 PORTABLE FLOOR Richard C. Bue and Julian Gutierrez,both of Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Sico incorporated, Minneapolis,Minn., a corporation of' Minnesota Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,1206 Claims. (Cl. 52-127) This invention relates generally to floorstructure and more particularly to portable floors.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a hardsmooth-surfaced floor which can be laid over a carpeted oor or any othersubstantially flat surface, such as rough concrete, a grass lawn, oreven hard earth, to provide a smooth even surface for dancing or otheractivities where a hard and smooth surface is desired.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a oor which can bequickly and easily installled and as quickly and easily removed forstorage or transport, without the use of special tools.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a floor comprisinga plurality of oor panels of a size to be easily handled, and of novelmeans for releasably `locking the panels together in side-by-sidecontiguous relationship to produce a smooth dat floor area.

Ano-ther object of this invention is the provision of a sectional flooras set forth, the panels, of which may be stored in highly compact formto utilize a minimum of storage space.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a oorcomprising a plurality of like panels and a border comprising aplurality of edge strips having coupling elements for couplingengagement with cooperating ones of the coupling elements of saidpanels, whereby to produce a floor having a finished margin that ispleasing in appearance and which protects the user from outwardlyprojecting coupling elements at the marginal edge of the floor.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a floor asdescribed, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, whichcan be installed to provide floors of various shapes and sizes withoutmodification of the various parts thereof, and which is rugged inconstruction and durable in use.

To the above ends, we provide a floor comprising a plurality of likepanels having straight sides, coupling elements at said sides forcoupling engagement -with cooperating coupling elements on adjacentpanels, and means operatively associated with said coupling elements forreleasably locking adjacent p-anels in side-by-side contiguousrelationship.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages ofthis invention will become apparent from the fol-lowing detailedspecification, ,appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a portable oor produced in accordancewith the invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 22 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIG. l;

3,319,919 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryexploded view in perspective corresponding generally to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of one of the panels of this invention,some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, a portablefloor is shown as comprising a plurality of like panels 1, the panelsvbeing arranged in a plurality of rows in side-by-side contiguousarrangement, each row comprising a plurality of said panels inside-by-side contiguous relationship. The floor is encompassed by aborder 2 comprising a plurality of edging strips 3 'and 4, and otheredging strips 5 and 6.

Preferably, the panels 1 are rectangular in outline, those of FIG. lbeing shown as square. Inasmuch as the panels 1 are identical as tostructure, but one thereof will -be described in detail. The panel 1comprises a base structure in the nature of a relatively thick base slabor member 7 of non-metallic sheet material, preferably of the typecommonly known as flbreboard, chip board or particle board. A relativelythin flat floor layer 8 overlies the base member 7 and is rigidly bondedthereto by suitable adhesive or the like. Preferably, the floor layer 8is made from hard wood, but may also be of other suitable material, suchas linoleum or other synthetic compounds, if desired.

For the purpose of joining or coupling the panel 1 to adjacent panelsand to the edging strips of the border 2, we provide a pair of malecoupling elements 9 and a pair of female coupling elements 10. The malecoupling elements 9 each comprise an elongated body portion 11, alaterally outward-ly projecting tongue 12 and vertically spacedlaterally inwardly projecting mounting flanges 13, the coupling elements9 extending substantially the length of one side of a panel 1. The basemember or slab 7 is formed to provide a tenon 1li that extends 'aboutthe entire periphery of the base member 7 for reception between themounting flanges 13 of the male coupling element 9 at two adjacent sidesof the panel 1, see particularly FIG. 6. As shown particularly in FIGS.2. and 4, the tongues 12 extend laterally outwardly of the verticalplane of the adjacent edge of the floor layer 3 for a purpose which willhereinafter become apparent. The coupling elements 9 are rigidly securedto the base member 7 by nails, staples or the like, as indicated at 15.Also as shown in FIG. 4, the vertical dimension or thickness of thecoupling elements 9 are equal to the thickness of the base member 7whereby to provide a smooth flat -bottom for the panel 1 and a smoothflat top surface to which the floor layer 8 is adhered.

Each female coupling element 1li comprises an elongated `body 16 that isformed to define a laterally loutwardly opening longitudinal channel 17,and a pair of vertically spaced laterally inwardly projectinglongitudinal mounting flanges 18 that are adapted to receive the tenen14 of the base member 7 at the two remaining sides of the base member 7.Like the male coupling elements 9, the female coupling elements 10 arerigidly anchored to their respective side portions of the base member 7lby nails or the like 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the channel 17 of eachfemale mounting element 10 is adapted to snugly receive the tongue 12 ofthe male mounting element 9 of an adjacent panel 1, each channel 17being preferably slightly deeper than the laterally outward projectionof the cooperating tongue 12. This arrangement, coupled with the factthat the outer edge portions ofthe body 16 s,sio,919

are disposed in the vertical plane of the adjacent side edge of the topdoor layer 8, assures abutting engagement of one -panel with anotherwithout the tongue 12 `bottoming in its cooperating channel 17.Preferably, the coupling elemnets 9 and 1li are extruded lightweightmetal, such as aluminum and, if desired, may be lbonded to theirrespective tenon portions 14 by suitable adhesive in ,addition to theirbeing nai-led or stapled thereto.

Means for releasably locking each panel 1 to adjacent panels to hold thesame against separation during use, comprises a plurality of headlesslocking screws 19 that are screw-threaded in threaded openings 2li inthe yb'ody portion 16 of the female coupling element lil, for movementtransversely into and out of the channels 17 thereof. The locking screws19 are provided at their inner ends with conical or tapering portions 21that are adapted to be received in longitudinally extended crosssectionally V-shaped grooves 22 in the upper surface portions ofthetongues 12 of cooperating male coupling elements 9. With reference toFIGS. 2-4, it will be seen that the tapered portion 21 of the lockingscrews 19* engage one side of their cooperating `grooves 22, so thatwhen the locking screws 19 are screw-threaded into the grooves 22, thetapered portions 21 thereof will tend to force adjacent panels intoabutting engagement. As shown, the locking screws 19 are provided withslots or recesses at their outer end for reception of a conventionalscrewdriver, the floor layers 8 being provided with access openings 23axially aligned with the locking screws 19. The access openings 23 areof sutliciently small diameter to prevent reception of even the mostslender sh'oe heels, commonly known as spiked heels, on womens shoes.

The edging strips 3-6 Iare preferably made from hard wood, such as oakor maple, and are chamfered or beveled at their laterally outerlongitudinal edges, as indicated at 24. The edging strips 3-6 are formedadjacent their inner longitudinal sides and bottom portions to providerecessed tenons 25 which, like the tenon portions 14 of the panels 1,are received between mounting flanges 13 and 18 of given ones of thecoupling elements 9 and 10 respectively. In the arrangement illustrated,the edging strips 3 and 5 have mounted therein male coupling ele- -ments9, the edging strips 4 and 6 having female coupling elements 10 mountedtherein, see FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the female coupling elements 10 ofthe edging strips 4 and 6 are provided with locking screws 19 and accessopenings 26 to the locking screws 19, the openings 26 extendingdownwardly from the top surface of each edging strip 4 and 6 in the samemanner as the openings 23 in the panels 1. The edging strip 3 differfrom the edging strips 5 only inthe construction of the opposite endstherebf, the edging strips 3 having opposite ends that are normal to thelongitudinal dimension of the strips, the edging strips 5 having one endnormal to the longitudinal dimension thereof, the opposite end thereofbeing mitered at an angle of substantially 45. In like manner, theedging strips 4 have their opposite ends normal to the longitudinaldimension thereof, the edging strips 6 each having one end normal to thelongitudinal dimension thereof and the opposite end beveled or miteredat a 45 angle to said longitudinal dimension. It will be further noted,with reference to FIG. l, that two of each of the edging strips S and 6are mitered in a manner to be right-hand, the others thereof 4beingleft-hand. Thus, when the edging strips are coupled -to the panels 1 inthe manner illustrated in FIG. l, the assembled oor presents a finishedappearance, the beveled surfaces 24 enabling the users to step onto thedoor without tripping or stumbling.

Disassembly of the floor is quickly and easily accomplished -by merelyretracting the locking screws 19 from their respective channels 17, soas to be disengaged from the grooves 22 of cooperating ones of the malecoupling elements 9, the panels 1 may be easily disengaged from eachother and either piled one on another in a place of storage or stood onedge in face-to-face engagement.

Thus, when the floor is disassembled it may tbe very convenientlyhandled and transported, taking up a minimum of space in storage. Itwill be further appreciated that, while we have shown and described thepanels 1 as being square or rectangular, the same may be produced in anydesired polygonal shape for various artistic effects.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and,while we have shown and described a commercial embodiment thereof, itwill be understood that the same is capable of modication withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, asdeined in theclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable lioor comprising:

(a) a plurality of like flat panels each having top and `bottom surfacesand an even numbered plurality of straight sides,

(b) said panels being arranged in contiguous rows,

each row including a plurality of said panels in side- `by-sideengagement,

(c) each of said panels including male coupling elements projectinglaterally outwardly of one-half of the number of sides thereof, andfemale coupling elements including laterally outwardly opening recessesin the remaining sides thereof for reception of male coupling elementsof adjacent ones of said panels,

(d) said male coupling elements having outer edges disposed in laterallyoutwardly spaced relationship to the bottoms of their respectiverecesses when said panels are disposed in side-by-side engagement,

(e) each of said panels having screw threaded apertures in said femalecoupling elements, said apertures extending downwardly from the topsurface of the panel to said recesses,

(f) and locking elements screw threaded in said apertures and havingconical lower ends movable into 'and out of said recesses,

(g) said male coupling elements having surface portions disposed to havecumming engagement with said conical ends, when said male couplingelements are disposed in said recesses, to draw adjacent sides 'ofadjacent panels into snug side-by-side engagement responsive to downwardmovement of said locking elements.

2. The portable oor defined in claim 1 in which said male couplingelements of each panel are disposed on adjacent sides of the panel.

3. The portable floor defined in claim 1 in which said male couplingelements include coupling tongues extending longitudinally of theirrespective panel sides for the greater part of the length of each side,said female coupling element recesses comprising channels extendinglougitudinally for the greater part of the length of their respectivesides.

4. The portable lioor delined in claim 3 in which each of said couplingtongues is formed to provide an upwardly opening cross sectionallyV-shaped longitudinal notch one side of which comprises said lockingelement engaging surface portion.

`5. The portable door defined in claim 3 in which each of said panelscomprises a relatively thick flat base member and a relatively thin atfloor layer overlying the base member and secured thereto, said couplingelements including mounting flanges rigidly secured to said base memberbelow said oor layer.

6. The portable floor defined in claim 1 characterized by a plurality ofedging strips having laterally inner and outer sides and ybeing ofthickness at the inner sides thereof equal to the thickness of saidpanels, said strips having coupling elements at the inner sides Ithereoffor coupling engagement with cooperating coupling elements of adjacentones of said panels and each releasably locked 5 in side by -sideabutting engagement to an adjacent one 2,381,469 of said panels.2,663,915 3,040,388 References Cited by the Examiner 3,175,476 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5 3,192,574

187,502 2/1877 Banker 52-592 958,557 5/1910 Stiggleman 52-584 2,138,08511/1938 Birtles 52-127 Sweet 52-624 Dietrich 52.-155

Conn 52-127 Franks 52-586 Jaffe 52-457 FRANK L. ABBOTT, PrimaryExaminer.

R. A. lSTENZEL, C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiners.

1. A PORTABLE FLOOR COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF LIKE FLAT PANELS EACHHAVING TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES AND AN EVEN NUMBERED PLURALITY OFSTRAIGHT SIDES, (B) SAID PANELS BEING ARRANGED IN CONTIGUOUS ROWS, EACHROW INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SAID PANELS IN SIDEBY-SIDE ENGAGEMENT, (C)EACH OF SAID PANELS INCLUDING MALE COUPLING ELEMENTS PROJECTINGLATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF ONE-HALF OF THE NUMBER OF SIDES THEREOF, ANDFEMALE COUPLING ELEMENTS INCLUDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING RECESSESIN THE REMAINING SIDES THEREOF FOR RECEPTION OF MALE COUPLING ELEMENTSOF ADJACENT ONES OF SAID PANELS, (D) SAID MALE COUPLING ELEMENTS HAVINGOUTER EDGES DISPOSED IN LATERALLY OUTWARDLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THEBOTTOMS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RECESSES WHEN SAID PANELS ARE DISPOSED INSIDE-BY-SIDE ENGAGEMENT, (E) EACH OF SAID PANELS HAVING SCREW THREADEDAPERTURES IN SAID FEMALE COUPLING ELEMENTS, SAID APERTURES EXTENDINGDOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP SURFACE OF THE PANEL TO SAID RECESSES, (F) ANDLOCKING ELEMENTS SCREW THREADED IN SAID APERTURES AND HAVING CONICALLOWER ENDS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID RECESSES, (G) SAID MALE COUPLINGELEMENTS HAVING SURFACE PORTIONS DISPOSED TO HAVE CAMMING ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID CONICAL ENDS, WHEN SAID MALE COUPLING ELEMENTS ARE DISPOSED INSAID RECESSES, TO DRAW ADJACENT SIDES OF ADJACENT PANELS INTO SNUGSIDE-BY-SIDE ENGAGEMENT RESPONSIVE TO DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKINGELEMENTS.